Premier Wen Jiabao was interviewed by the Press Trust of India (PTI) in Beijing just before kicking off his four-nation tour to South Asia.

When commenting on the current China-India relations, Wen said looking back at the 55 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations we have every reason to believe that China-India relations are in its best period in history. Currently the bilateral relations have entered the track of sustained, sound and mature development, thus opening a new chapter of comprehensive development in the bilateral ties. With deepening political mutual trust, both sides regard each other as important partner of exchanges and cooperation. Both sides stick to the five principles of peaceful co-existence. Both sides insist to address problems left over from history through consultations on an equal footing. New progress has been scored continuously in bilateral exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, culture, science, technology, education, tourism and international affairs. Both China and India have full confidence over the development prospect of bilateral relations. Everlasting friendship and common development represent the common aspiration of both peoples.

When talking about bilateral economic and trade cooperation, Wen indicated that the economic and trade relations between China and India are developing rapidly, cooperation is expanding and the content is deepening. Bilateral trade has reached USD 13.6 billion in 2004, an increase of 12 times over 10 years ago, realizing the USD 10 billion objective in advance. India is the largest trading partner of China in South Asia and China has become the second largest export market and the third largest import supplier of India. Bilateral economic and trade cooperation enjoys great potential and a bright prospect.

Wen also noted that the development of China and India represents the uprising of Asia as a whole as well as the progress of developing countries. There is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and India. The two sides need to learn from each other in a number of aspects. China and India are friends rather than rivals. Bilateral friendship benefits both.